Congratulations to East Garston Amenities for organising another splendid VE Day celebration on Thursday 8 May 2025. 

Villagers met at the War Memorial at 7.45pm, many in 1940s dress or wearing relatives’ medals, for the moving 80th VE Day Commemoration. 

There was a strong sense of community amongst the gathering, paying tribute to the men listed on the War Memorial from both the First and Second World Wars. Thoughts were also extended to those unnamed who fought and survived the war who still made a big sacrifice to protect our freedom.

The occasion started with Land of Hope and Glory and a reading of For The Fallen by Col Marcus Coombs who laid a wreath on the memorial. After The Last Post, two minutes silence, and the Reveille, the ceremony concluded with the National Anthem. 

The gathered crowd was then invited to make their way up Beacon Hill on foot, or in the vintage bus, accompanied by the ringing of All Saints’ Church bells.

With the Beacon successfully lit by Jonathan Rabbits, enthusiastic renditions were performed of nostalgic tunes while the EGA pop-up bar kept everyone suitably imbibed.

Thanks to Harriet Smyly and Lindsey Mason for most of these photos. Click on each image to enlarge…